This is obviously somewhat of a loaded question as America is such a diverse and multicultural nation. One person’s “quintessential American” is not going to be the same as another persons. Which is why it is an interesting question.

None the less most big nations have a few iconic figures that immediately spring to mind when a foreigner is asked to think of a famous person that represents that country. Of course what they immediately think of might be very different to what a native of that country first thinks of.

For example I would imagine if a none Australian was asked to think of the first person that exemplifies Australia it would Steve Irwin or Crocodile Dundee…even though some of the biggest contemporary Hollywood stars are Australian and very few Australians actually live outside major cosmopolitan cities.

Germany would still be Hitler even though Germany is now one of the most progressive nations on the planet.

The U.K. would probably be Queen Elizabeth the second even though she is dead and the Royal family are pretty much an Alien species compared to most Brits.

Who do you think is the quintessential representative of America and do you think your answer will be the same as that of an none American?

29 comments

  3. That kid at the USA-Mexico soccer match who took off his Mexican flag headband and put on a US flag one as soon as the US scored the first goal.

  5. Dolly Parton or Gary Sinise, I think both embody what America advertises itself as (but isn’t). They’re generous, kind, supportive, tenacious and humble.

  7. Ernest Hemingway. Dude hunted German U boats for the fuck of it. Oh, and he wrote a couple books.

  11. Muhammad Ali

    Im not sure too many non Americans would necessarily would consider him a quintessential American. Maybe back in the 1970s

  12. George Washington, he was like, one of the first ones.

    Edit: Unless you’re talking about before the revolution, then I’m gonna go with Pocahontas.

  14. I am a little uncomfortable with calling Hitler the “quintessential German.” What do you think quintessential actually means? Even during WWII I doubt Hitler represented “the most perfect or typical example” of a German person. Quintessential is also not “most famous” nor “most beloved” nor is it “first name that comes into your head.” It’s someone who genuinely represents the typical example.

  21. Ted Williams took 4-5 years off from being the best hitter in the goddamn world to go be the best pilot in the goddamn world and then retired to become the best fisherman in the goddamn world. He also swore *a lot.* So, Ted Williams.

  23. I’m not American, so I shouldn’t comment on this, but for me Hunter S. Thompson embodies not only everything American but also sum up the characteristics of many of the names mentioned in this thread

  24. Will Rogers. He was a Cherokee who worked as a cowboy, got famous for his Western act in which he used jokes. Got more famous for the jokes, became a source of homespun wisdom and a movie star, still frequently quoted and referenced today, has a statue of him in the Capitol, and died in a plane crash with his friend Wiley Post, who was the first guy to fly solo across the Pacific.

  27. Jimmy Stewart – actual war hero, superstar actor, lovable Everyman.

    Also in some of the best movies ever made with Capra and Hitchcock.

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